Diagnostic instrument and a medical device assembly including the same

Abstract

A diagnostic instrument is provided, including a proximal end; a penetrating component; and an attachment assembly positioned between the proximal end and the penetrating component to allow for separation of the proximal end from the penetrating component without fully retracting the penetrating component from a body of a patient during use of the diagnostic instrument.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A diagnostic instrument comprising:
 a proximal end;   a penetrating component; and   an attachment assembly positioned between the proximal end and the penetrating component to allow for separation of the proximal end from the penetrating component without fully retracting the penetrating component from a body of a patient during use of the diagnostic instrument.   
     
     
         2 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment assembly comprises a first member connected to the penetrating component and a second member connected to the proximal end, said first member and said second member releasably attachable to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the first member includes first attachment features, and the second member comprises second attachment features, wherein the first and second attachment features interlock when rotated relative to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 3 , wherein the first attachment features comprise pins with an enlarged distal end and the second attachment features comprise slots defined by the second member configured to receive the pins. 
     
     
         5 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 4 , wherein the proximal end comprises a control lever and a translating component connected to the control lever, wherein the pins, when engaged, are actuatable by the control lever. 
     
     
         6 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the pins are engaged with the penetrating component to articulate the penetrating component. 
     
     
         7 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end defines a working channel, wherein the penetrating component defines a working channel, wherein the attachment assembly comprises a mating tube, and wherein the working channel of the proximal end is in communication with the working channel of the penetrating component through the mating tube. 
     
     
         8 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment assembly further comprises an electrical connection electrically connecting the proximal end and the penetrating component. 
     
     
         9 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic instrument is an endoscope. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a diagnostic instrument, the method comprising:
 inserting a penetrating component into a body of a patient;   detaching a proximal end of the diagnostic instrument from the penetrating component at an attachment assembly of the diagnostic instrument while the penetrating component remains inserted into the body of the patient; and   reattaching a proximal end of the diagnostic instrument to the penetrating component at the attachment assembly of the diagnostic instrument while the penetrating component remains inserted into the body of the patient.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein detaching the proximal end of the diagnostic instrument from the penetrating component at the attachment assembly comprises disengaging a first member connected to the penetrating component from a second member connected to the proximal end. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein disengaging the first member connected to the penetrating component from the second member connected to the proximal end comprises rotating the first member relative to the second member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first member includes first attachment features, wherein the second member comprises second attachment features, wherein the first attachment features comprise pins with an enlarged distal end and the second attachment features defines slots configured to receive the pins. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 articulating the penetrating component, wherein articulating the penetrating component comprises engaging the pins.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein engaging the pins comprises engaging the pins with a translating component of the proximal end, the translating component coupled to the pins when the proximal end is attached to the penetrating component at the attachment assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 removing a first tubing unit extending over the penetrating component after detaching the proximal end of the diagnostic instrument from the penetrating component while the penetrating component remains inserted into the body of the patient; and   inserting a second tubing unit over the penetrating component before reattaching the proximal end of the diagnostic instrument to the penetrating component while the penetrating component remains inserted into the body of the patient.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first tubing unit is different than the second tubing unit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first tubing unit is an endotracheal tube in airflow communication with a ventilator. 
     
     
         19 . A medical device assembly comprising:
 a secondary device having a tube; and   a diagnostic instrument comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a penetrating component, the penetrating component extending at least partially through the tube of the secondary device; and 
 an attachment assembly positioned between the proximal end and the penetrating component to allow for separation of the proximal end from the penetrating component without fully retracting the penetrating component from a body of a patient during use of the diagnostic instrument. 
   
     
     
         20 . The medical device assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the tube of the secondary device is an endotracheal tube, and wherein the diagnostic instrument is an endoscope.